Tool assembly



- m Wm Feb. 1, 1949.-

Filed Feb. 4, 1947 v F. VON VOIGTLANDER TOOL AS SLMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1949- F. VON VOIGTLANDER 2,460,555

TOOL ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 4, 1947 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOL ASSEMBLY Frederick Von Voigtlander, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Application February 4, 1947, Serial No. 726,332

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to tools, more particularly to that class wherein workin parts are interchangeably attached to a driving member and specifically to wrenches wherein a socket providing head selected from a set may be quickly and easily attached or detached to a suitable handle;

An object of this invention is to provide an interlocking device which'not only permits easy and rapid assembly of the parts but securely locks the wrench-head on the handle against accidental removal, yet permitting intentional removal by a simple manual manipulation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a locking mechanism between the head and handle which while preventing the head from slipping off the handle during wrench operation, is not subject to any stress or strain. In normal uses of the wrench, no part of the locking mechanism is ever subjected to any force which might tend to affect its maximum operating efficiency.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a locking device suitable for use in either large or small, light or heavy duty type wrench sets, operating with the same speed and efficiency in any instance.

Other objects and advantages of this invention relating to the arrangement, operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction, to combination of parts and to economies of manufacture, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, parts being broken away, of a tool of the wrench type, embodying features of the invention herein;

Fig. 2 is an end view looking into the head of the wrench from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a viewon the line III-III, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view on the line IVIV, Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view on the line V--V, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified key configuration;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing another modified key configuration;

Fi 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing still another modified key configuration; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified handle slot and key operating mechanism more particularly adapted to heavy-duty wrenches.

Handle or stem ill may be provided with knurled grip portion l2 at one end andv a bifurcated terminus 4 at the other. An actuating bar 5 may supplement the grip portion l2.

Handle extension H3 is pivotally mounted. on pin 29 carried by the bifurcated terminus l4 and may assume angular positions as to the stem 10 and so held by a suitable clutch such as the spring held ball and detent mechanism 22 herein shown. For purposes of the inventionherein, this extension !8 may be considered as an integral part-of the handle or driving member.

The member IS, in a preferred form, has enlargement 24- intermediate its length and is provided with a shank portion 26 which mounts the working part or head 28 herein shown as a socket-wrench- The perimeter or cross-sectional configuration of the shank may be of any keying form, that is having any outline which is non-circular. A simple configuration is the square as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, which lends itself to economical production and efficiency in operation. However, any polygonal shape may be employed as illustrated by the triangular form of shank 30 in Fig. 6 and the hexagonal form 32 in Fig. 7. Nonpolygonal shapes may also be used, such as eccentrics, irregular or geometrical forms as illustrated by the use of the ellipse 34 shown in Fig. 8.

The work heads 2'3 are provided with shank receivin socket portions 36 whose cross-sectional configurations conform to the cross-sectional configurations of the shanks upon which the particular head is to be mounted.

A socket 36 is placed in telescopic relationship with a shank and head end 38 comes into contact with abutment 40 usually at one side of the enlargement 24, which determines the mounted position of the head on the handle. In this relationship, shoulder 62, intermediately disposed within the head, comes into registry with terminus 44 of the shank.

The member 18 is'pro'vided with axial opening 6 and radially communicating slot 48'. Mounted in the opening '36 is a first pin 50'which is rotatable by a second pin 52 passing therethrough and extending to the handle exterior through the slot 48 and fixed with actuating ring 54 which ring is manually rotatable on and about the enlarged portion 24 of the handle;

The pin 50 carries a locking key 56 against the shank terminus 4 4. This key has a perimeter preferably conforming in configuration or outline to the cross-sectional shape of the shank with which it is to be used, as for example square key 56 used with the square shank 26, triangular key 58 used with the triangular shank 30, a hexagonal key Gil used with the hexagonal shank 32, or an elliptical key E2 used with the elliptical shank 34.

The use of like cross-sectional shaped shank and key together has advantages in assembly of the parts. While this matched use is not necessary, it is important that the key and shank have outlines so that in one position of the key relative to the shank, the keys entire perimeter corresponds to or lies within the perimeter of the shank's cross-sectional area and in an angular position therefrom portions of the key extend beyond the shanks boundaries.

By the construction described, manual rotation of the ring 54 rotates the key. When the key has its outline in registry with the shank, a head may he slipped thereon and then when the key is angularly shifted, portions thereof engage the shoulder 42 in the head and hold such head locked with the handle.

Means are provided to automatically shift the key from unlocked to locking position and normally hold the key in this latter position. To this end, a desirable construction may be the use of spring 64 about pin 50, one end of the spring attached to the pin and the other end attached to the member IS. The opening 46 is provided with enlargement 66 to accommodate this spring arrangement.

The slot 48 may be an aperture of a calculated width, extending through the handle to limit the pin 52 movement so that the key may be rotated from just fully unlocked to fully locking positions. This slot may also be an aperture 68 designed to determine limits of movement of the selected form of key and still require a minimum of metal removal from the handle. This is especially valuable in wrenches designed for heavy duty use.

The work engaging portions '10 of the heads 28 may be of any desired form to fit the work upon which the wrenches are to be used.

This construction lends itself to quick assembly between the head and handle. The handle may be grasped at any point by one hand, the head to be placed thereon held by the other hand and slipped over the key and turned to bring the key in registry with the shank, then allowing the head to be thrust along the shank to assembly position. As the head reaches this position, the spring throws the key into locking position. Removal of the head is accomplished by turning the ring from one limit of its rotation to the other, which is but a fraction of a full turn, and the head may then be readily slipped from the shank.

It is to be understood that the above description of the present invention is intended to disclose an embodiment thereof to those skilled in the art, but that the invention is not to be construed as limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. The language used in the specification relating to the operation and function of the elements of the invention is employed for purposes of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the scope of the following claims beyond the requirements of the prior art.

What is claimed-and it is desired to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a tool having an actuating member and a head detachably secured thereto, locking means therebetween comprising a shank on one of said members having a key cross-sectional configuration, a socket in the other member of like crosssectional configuration for telescopically receiving the shank, means determining a limitation of shank insertion in said socket, a shoulder in said socket providing member which is adjacent the' terminus of the shank when the parts are in assembled position, a key terminally mounted on said shank having a perimeter which in one po-.

sition of the key lies entirely within the crosssectional configuration of the shank and in an angular position therefrom extends therebeyond to engage said shoulder, and means for angularly shifting said key.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the shank cross-sectional key configuration is polygonal.

3. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein the shank cross-sectional configuration and the key perimeter are polygonal.

4. The construction setforth in claim 1 wherein the shank cross-sectional configuration and the key perimeter define like polygons.

5. In wrench construction of the class described, a handle providing a shank having a key cross-sectional configuration, a wrench head detachably mounted thereon and provided with a socket of like cross-sectional configuration for telescopically receiving the shank, an abutment on said handle determining assembly relationship between said head and handle, a shoulder in said head, a pin rotatably mounted axially in said shank, a key carried by said pin adjacent the shank terminus, said key having a perimeter which in one position is entirely within the crosssectional configuration of the shank while in an angular position thereto extends therebeyond to l engage said shoulder, and shiftable means carried by said handle connected to said pin to rotate said pin and the key mounted thereon.

6. The construction set forth in claim 5 wherein said shank cross-sectional configuration and key perimeter are non-circular.

7. The construction set forth in claim 5 including spring means between said key and shank normally holding said key in looking position.

8. In wrench construction of the class described, a handle providing a shank having a key cross-sectional configuration, a wrench head detachably mounted thereon and provided with a socket of like cross-sectional configuration for telescopically receiving the shank, an abutment on said handle determining assembly relationship between said head and handle, a shoulder in said head, a first pin rotatably mounted axially in said shank, said handle provided with a slot therein extending from said first pin to the handle exterior, a key carried by said first pin adjacent the shank terminus, said key having a perimeter which in one position is entirely within the cross-sectional configuration of the shank while in an angular position thereto extends therebeyond to engage said shoulder, and a second pin connected to said first pin and radially extending therefrom through said slot and shift able therein to rotate the first pin and the key mounted thereon.

9. The construction set forth in claim 8 having a ring attached to said second pin and rotatable about the handle.

10. In interchangeable wrench head construction, a handle providing a shank polygonal in cross-section, a wrench head having a socket of like cross-section for telescopic connection therewith, an abutment on said handle determining the assembled relationship therebetween, a shoulder in said head registering with the shank terminus in the assembled relationship, a rotatable pin mounted in said shank, a key fixed on said pin having a perimeter corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of said shank and in one position providing continuation thereon and in an angular position therefrom extending therebeyond to engage said shoulder, a ring mounted on said handle, a connection between said pin and ring, and means normally holding said key in shoulder engaging position.

FREDERICK VON VOIGTLANDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 402,132 Berry Apr. 30, 1889 2,066,956 Williams Jan. 5, 1937 2,162,359 Rhinevault June 13, 1939 2,219,907 Ross Oct. 29, 1940 2,348,727 Cote May 16, 1944- 2,379,984 Nereaux July 10, 1945 

